Kevin Smith practicing with first string (1 Viewer)

[freshly_shorn]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../808020348/1004

Kitna draws comparisons to Corey Dillon (yea, the same guy that says the Lions can win 10. Has he seen their schedule?).

Of course, we're talking about the Lions backfield here... but I think Smith is going to be the best RB on the roster.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../808020348/1004

Kitna draws comparisons to Corey Dillon (yea, the same guy that says the Lions can win 10. Has he seen their schedule?).

Of course, we're talking about the Lions backfield here... but I think Smith is going to be the best RB on the roster.

The only reason he practiced with the first team was because Tatum Bell was not at practice. Marinelli makes rookies earn the starting job. That being said, I will be shocked if Smith is not starting. I will also note that for a rookie, he looks solid in picking up the blitz.

I saw the Lions practice Friday. The link below contains my impressions.

Link

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

To me, the bar isn't that high. All you have to do is beat out Tatum Bell for a starting job??? Last year at this time, I thought Tatum Bell would be playing in the Canadian League this year, I can't believe he's still on the Lions.

If Kevin Smith is any good at all, he'll be sharing time and pushing towards the starting job by week 1.

My guess is that either Bell or Smith are the kind of backs that hit the hole and move piles back. Speed guys but aren't going to carry a guy that extra yard when you need it. It'll be interesting on 3rd down and short this season.

 

[gianmarco]

To me, the bar isn't that high. All you have to do is beat out Tatum Bell for a starting job??? Last year at this time, I thought Tatum Bell would be playing in the Canadian League this year, I can't believe he's still on the Lions.If Kevin Smith is any good at all, he'll be sharing time and pushing towards the starting job by week 1.My guess is that either Bell or Smith are the kind of backs that hit the hole and move piles back. Speed guys but aren't going to carry a guy that extra yard when you need it. It'll be interesting on 3rd down and short this season.

Kevin Smith is not really a "speed" guy.

 

[Tyrion]

To me, the bar isn't that high. All you have to do is beat out Tatum Bell for a starting job??? Last year at this time, I thought Tatum Bell would be playing in the Canadian League this year, I can't believe he's still on the Lions.If Kevin Smith is any good at all, he'll be sharing time and pushing towards the starting job by week 1.My guess is that either Bell or Smith are the kind of backs that hit the hole and move piles back. Speed guys but aren't going to carry a guy that extra yard when you need it. It'll be interesting on 3rd down and short this season.

Pat Kirwan also compared him to C. Dillon so there might be something to it. He said from observations and talking to the coaches that one of Kevin's best abilities was his ability to break tackles. This is my first year to listen to Kirwan's camp show so I don't know if he is a glass is half full or half empty guy.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

To me, the bar isn't that high. All you have to do is beat out Tatum Bell for a starting job??? Last year at this time, I thought Tatum Bell would be playing in the Canadian League this year, I can't believe he's still on the Lions.If Kevin Smith is any good at all, he'll be sharing time and pushing towards the starting job by week 1.My guess is that either Bell or Smith are the kind of backs that hit the hole and move piles back. Speed guys but aren't going to carry a guy that extra yard when you need it. It'll be interesting on 3rd down and short this season.

Kevin Smith is not really a "speed" guy.

He is not a speed guy, but he is not a "lack of speed guy" either. He looked fast enough in practice.

 

[gianmarco]

To me, the bar isn't that high. All you have to do is beat out Tatum Bell for a starting job??? Last year at this time, I thought Tatum Bell would be playing in the Canadian League this year, I can't believe he's still on the Lions.If Kevin Smith is any good at all, he'll be sharing time and pushing towards the starting job by week 1.My guess is that either Bell or Smith are the kind of backs that hit the hole and move piles back. Speed guys but aren't going to carry a guy that extra yard when you need it. It'll be interesting on 3rd down and short this season.

Kevin Smith is not really a "speed" guy.

He is not a speed guy, but he is not a "lack of speed guy" either. He looked fast enough in practice.

Right. He is deceptively fast because of his long strides once he gets going. But, he's definitely more of a pile mover than a break it to the outside kind of runner. He's had lots of practice at it since UCF runs a more pro-oriented, ZBS system.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Another thing about Smith and the Lions changing to the zone blocking scheme: They may struggle to block early on. It's important to watch or at least get info on how they look in preseason, rather than just read the yards per carry. If there are breakdowns by the line and Smith struggles because of them, the shark move is to use that to buy low before the season or early in the season. It's also important to see what he does when the line executes. See how he reads the blocks and then see how he hits the hole. He definitely has the vision and burst to be solid in this scheme, but he has to use that to hit the hole without hesitating or dancing, and then he has to break tackles sometimes too. In practice (no pads, so no tackling), he hesitated at times, but he made some nice cutbacks and when he did hit the hole, he had a good burst and looked fast enough. Also keep an eye on how he does picking up the blitz. Thus far in practice, he has done very well at it.

 

[Darker Knight]

last two years 656 carries with ZERO fumbles......the guy is a positive yard guy...he is always moving forward

 

[Koya]

Did someone say Tatum Bell being in the way of someone and a starting job? I think 2006 called.

 

[The High Priest]

AB, that was a great write up !

Thanks.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Motivational ploy.

 

[joffer]

Motivational ploy.

for who?